As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans continues through Jan. 15, you’re likely seeing fewer social media ads promising monthly cash cards worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars that you can use for groceries, medical bills, rent and other expenses. But don’t worry. You haven’t missed out on any windfalls. Clicking on one of those ads would not have provided you with a cash card — at least not worth hundreds or thousands. But you might have found yourself switched to a health insurance plan you did not authorize, unable to afford treatment for an unforeseen medical emergency, and owing thousands of dollars to the IRS, according to an ongoing lawsuit against companies and individuals who plaintiffs say masterminded the ads and alleged scams committed against millions of people who responded to them. The absence of those once-ubiquitous ads are likely a result of the federal government suspending access to the ACA marketplace for two companies that market health insurance out of South Florida offices, amid accusations they used “fraudulent” ads to lure customers and then switched their insurance plans and agents without their knowledge. In its suspension letter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) cited “credible allegations of misconduct” in the agency’s decision to suspend the abilities of two companies — TrueCoverage (doing business as Inshura) and BenefitAlign — to transact information with the marketplace. CMS licenses and monitors agencies that use their own websites and information technology platforms to enroll health insurance customers in ACA plans offered in the federal marketplace. The alleged scheme affected millions of consumers, according to a lawsuit winding its way through U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale that seeks class-action status. An amended version of the suit, filed in August, increased the number of defendants from six to 12: — TrueCoverage LLC, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based health insurance agency with large offices in Miami, Miramar and Deerfield Beach. TrueCoverage is a sub-tenant of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a building leased by the newspaper in Deerfield Beach. — Enhance Health LLC, a Sunrise-based health insurance agency that the lawsuit says was founded by Matthew Herman, also named as a defendant, with a $150 million investment from hedge fund Bain Capital’s insurance division. Bain Capital Insurance Fund LP is also a defendant. — Speridian Technologies LLC, accused in the lawsuit of establishing two direct enrollment platforms that provided TrueCoverage and other agencies access to the ACA marketplace. — Benefitalign LLC, identified in the suit as one of the direct enrollment platforms created by Speridian. Like Speridian and TrueCoverage, the company is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. — Number One Prospecting LLC, doing business as Minerva Marketing, based in Fort Lauderdale, and its founder, Brandon Bowsky, accused of developing the social media ads that drove customers — or “leads” — to the health insurance agencies. — Digital Media Solutions LLC, doing business as Protect Health, a Miami-based agency that the suit says bought Minerva’s “fraudulent” ads. In September, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in United States Bankruptcy Court in Texas, which automatically suspended claims filed against the company. — Net Health Affiliates Inc., an Aventura-based agency the lawsuit says was associated with Enhance Health and like it, bought leads from Minerva. — Garish Panicker, identified in the lawsuit as half-owner of Speridian Global Holdings and day-to-day controller of companies under its umbrella, including TrueCoverage, Benefitalign and Speridian Technologies. — Matthew Goldfuss, accused by the suit of overseeing and directing TrueCoverage’s ACA enrollment efforts. All of the defendants have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. The motions deny the allegations and argue that the plaintiffs failed to properly state their claims and lack the standing to file the complaints. The Sun Sentinel sent requests for comment and lists of questions about the cases to four separate law firms representing separate groups of defendants. Three of the law firms — one representing Brandon Bowsky and Number One Prospecting LLC d/b/a Minerva Marketing, and two others representing Net Health Affiliates Inc. and Bain Capital Insurance Fund — did not respond to the requests. A representative of Enhance Health LLC and Matthew Herman, Olga M. Vieira of the Miami-based firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, responded with a short message saying she was glad the newspaper knew a motion to dismiss the charges had been filed by the defendants. She also said that, “Enhance has denied all the allegations as reported previously in the media.” Catherine Riedel, a communications specialist representing TrueCoverage LLC, Benefitalign LLC, Speridian Technologies LLC, Girish Panicker and Matthew Goldfuss, issued the following statement: “TrueCoverage takes these allegations very seriously and is responding appropriately. While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we strongly believe that the allegations are baseless and without merit. “Compliance is our business. The TrueCoverage team records and reviews every call with a customer, including during Open Enrollment when roughly 500 agents handle nearly 30,000 calls a day. No customer is enrolled into any policy without a formal verbal consent given by the customer. If any customer calls in as a result of misleading content presented by third-party marketing vendors, agents are trained to correct such misinformation and action is taken against such third-party vendors.” Through Riedel, the defendants declined to answer follow-up questions, including whether the company remains in business, whether it continues to enroll Affordable Care Act clients, and whether it is still operating its New Mexico call center using another affiliated technology platform. The suspension notification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services letter cites several factors, including the histories of noncompliance and previous suspensions. The letter noted suspicion that TrueCoverage and Benefitalign were storing consumers’ personally identifiable information in databases located in India and possibly other overseas locations in violation of the centers’ rules. The letter also notes allegations against the companies in the pending lawsuit that “they engaged in a variety of illegal practices, including violations of the (Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act), misuse of consumer (personal identifiable information) and insurance fraud.” The amended lawsuit filed in August names as plaintiffs five individuals who say their insurance plans were changed and two agencies who say they lost money when they were replaced as agents. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of 55 counts of wrongdoing, ranging from running ads offering thousands of dollars in cash that they knew would never be provided directly to consumers, switching millions of consumers into different insurance policies without their authorization, misstating their household incomes to make them eligible for $0 premium coverage, and “stealing” commissions by switching the agents listed in their accounts. TrueCoverage, Enhance Health, Protect Health, and some of their associates “engaged in hundreds of thousands of agent-of-record swaps to steal other agents’ commissions,” the suit states. “Using the Benefitalign and Inshura platforms, they created large spreadsheet lists of consumer names, dates of birth and zip codes.” They provided those spreadsheets to agents, it says, and instructed them to access platforms linked to the ACA marketplace and change the customers’ agents of record “without telling the client or providing informed consent.” “In doing so, they immediately captured the monthly commissions of agents ... who had originally worked with the consumers directly to sign them up,” the lawsuit asserts. TrueCoverage employees who complained about dealing with prospects who called looking for cash cards were routinely chided by supervisors who told them to be vague and keep making money, the suit says. When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began contacting the company in January about customer complaints, the suit says TrueCoverage enrollment supervisor Matthew Goldfuss sent an email instructing agents “do not respond.” The lawsuit states the “scheme” was made possible in 2021 when Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The act made it possible for Americans with household incomes between 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level to pay zero in premiums and it enabled those consumers to enroll in ACA plans all year round, instead of during the three-month open enrollment period from November to January. Experienced health insurance brokers recognized the opportunity presented by the changes, the lawsuit says. More than 40 million Americans live within 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level, while only 15 million had ACA insurance at the time. The defendants developed or benefited from online ads, the lawsuit says, which falsely promised “hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per month in cash benefits such as subsidy cards to pay for common expenses like rent, groceries, and gas.” Consumers who clicked on the ads were brought to a landing page that asked a few qualifying questions, and if their answers suggested that they might qualify for a low-cost or no-cost plan, they were provided a phone number to a health insurance agency. There was a major problem with the plan, according to the lawsuit. “Customers believe they are being routed to someone who will send them a free cash card, not enroll them in health insurance.” By law, the federal government sends subsidies for ACA plans to insurance companies, and not to individual consumers. Scripts were developed requiring agents not to mention a cash card, and if a customer mentions a cash card, “be vague” and tell the caller that only the insurance carrier can provide that information, the lawsuit alleges. In September, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the claims. In addition to denying the charges, they argued that the class plaintiffs lacked the standing to make the accusations and failed to demonstrate that they suffered harm. The motion also argued that the lawsuit’s accusations failed to meet requirements necessary to claim civil violations of the RICO Act. Miami-based attorney Jason Kellogg, representing the plaintiffs, said he doesn’t expect a ruling on the motion to dismiss the case for several months. The complaint also lists nearly 50 companies, not named as defendants, that it says fed business to TrueCoverage and Enhance Health. Known in the industry as “downlines,” most operate in office parks throughout South Florida, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit quotes former TrueCoverage employees complaining about having to work with customers lured by false cash promises in the online ads. A former employee who worked in the company’s Deerfield Beach office was quoted in the lawsuit as saying that senior TrueCoverage and Speridian executives “knew that consumers were calling in response to the false advertisements promising cash cards and they pressured agents to use them to enroll consumers into ACA plans.” A former human resources manager for TrueCoverage said sales agents frequently complained “that they did not feel comfortable having to mislead consumers,” the lawsuit said. Over two dozen agents “came to me with these complaints and showed me the false advertisements that consumers who called in were showing them,” the lawsuit quoted the former manager as saying. For much of the time the companies operated, the ACA marketplace enabled agents to easily access customer accounts using their names and Social Security numbers, change their insurance plans and switch their agents of record without their knowledge or authorization, the lawsuit says. This resulted in customers’ original agents losing their commissions and many of the policyholders finding out they suddenly owed far more for health care services than their original plans had required, the suit states. It says that one of the co-plaintiffs’ health plans was changed at least 22 times without her consent. She first discovered that she had lost her original plan when she sought to renew a prescription for her heart condition and her doctor told her she did not have health insurance, the suit states. Another co-plaintiff’s policy was switched after her husband responded to one of the cash card advertisements, the lawsuit says. That couple’s insurance plan was switched multiple times after a TrueCoverage agent excluded the wife’s income from an application so the couple would qualify. Later, they received bills from the IRS for $4,300 to cover tax credits issued to pay for the plans. CMS barred TrueCoverage and BenefitAlign from accessing the ACA marketplace. It said it received more than 90,000 complaints about unauthorized plan switches and more than 183,500 complaints about unauthorized enrollments, but the agency did not attribute all of the complaints to activities by the two companies. In addition, CMS restricted all agents’ abilities to alter policyholders’ enrollment information, the lawsuit says. Now access is allowed only for agents that already represent policyholders or if the policyholder participates in a three-way call with an agent and a marketplace employee. Between June and October, the agency barred 850 agents and brokers from accessing the marketplace “for reasonable suspicion of fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or unauthorized plan switches,” according to an October CMS news release . The changes resulted in a “dramatic and sustained drop” in unauthorized activity, including a nearly 70% decrease in plan changes associated with an agent or broker and a nearly 90% decrease in changes to agent or broker commission information, the release said. It added that while consumers were often unaware of such changes, the opportunity to make them provided “significant financial incentive for non-compliant agents and brokers.” But CMS’ restrictions might be having unintended consequences for law-abiding agents and brokers. A story published by Insurance News Net on Nov. 11 quoted the president of the Health Agents for America (HAFA) trade group as saying agents are being suspended by CMS after being flagged by a mysterious algorithm that no one can figure out. The story quotes HAFA president Ronnell Nolan as surmising, “maybe they wrote too many policies on the same day for people who have the same income or they’re writing too many policies on people of a certain occupation.” Nolan continued, “We have members who have thousands of ACA clients. They can’t update or renew their clients. So those consumers have lost access to their professional agent, which is simply unfair.” Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.Jeremy Clarkson has backpedalled on his previous comments about why he bought his farm, saying he thought it would be a “better PR story if I said I bought it to avoid paying tax”. The TV presenter and journalist defied doctors’ orders by joining thousands of farmers in London on Tuesday to protest against agricultural inheritance tax changes. The 64-year-old, who fronts Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm, which documents the trials of farming on his land in Oxfordshire, wrote in a post on the Top Gear website in 2010: “I have bought a farm. There are many sensible reasons for this: Land is a better investment than any bank can offer. The government doesn’t get any of my money when I die. And the price of the food that I grow can only go up.” Clarkson also told the Times in 2021 that avoiding inheritance tax was “the critical thing” in his decision to buy land. Addressing the claim in a new interview with The Times, the former Top Gear presenter said: “I never did admit why I really bought it.” The fan of game bird shooting added: “I wanted to have a shoot – I was very naive. I just thought it would be a better PR story if I said I bought it to avoid paying tax.” Clarkson was among the thousands who took to the streets this week to protest over the changes in the recent Budget to impose inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1 million and he addressed the crowds at the march in central London. He told the newspaper he is not happy to be the public face of the movement, saying: “It should be led by farmers.” The presenter said he does not consider himself a farmer because there are “so many basic jobs” which he cannot do, but he feels his role is to “report on farming”. Earlier this month, it was confirmed Clarkson’s Farm, which has attracted huge attention to his Diddly Squat farm shop, had been renewed for a fifth series. Asked whether the issue behind the tax protest is that rural poverty is hidden, Clarkson agreed and said his programme was not helping to address the situation. “One of the problems we have on the show is we’re not showing the poverty either, because obviously on Diddly Squat there isn’t any poverty”, he said. “But trust me, there is absolute poverty. I’m surrounded by farmers. I’m not going out for dinner with James Dyson. “It’s people with 200 acres, 400 acres. Way past Rachel Reeves’s threshold. They are f*****.” The newspaper columnist also presents Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? on ITV. The Grand Tour, his motoring show with former Top Gear colleagues Richard Hammond and James May, ended in September. Discussing whether he might move into politics, Clarkson said: “I’d be a terrible political leader, hopeless. I’m a journalist at heart, I prefer throwing rocks at people than having them thrown at me.” However, he said he would be “100% behind any escalation” after the farmers’ march. Clarkson revealed last month he had undergone a heart procedure to have stents fitted after experiencing a “sudden deterioration” in his health which brought on symptoms of being “clammy”, a “tightness” in his chest and “pins and needles” in his left arm. He said in a Sunday Times column that one of his arteries was “completely blocked and the second of three was heading that way” and doctors said he was perhaps “days away” from becoming very ill. Asked if he is thinking about retiring, the Doncaster-born celebrity said: “Probably not. It depends when you die, I always think. “You’d be surprised, us Northerners are made of strong stuff.”
GLASSBORO, New Jersey -- The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) at Rowan University's College of Engineering gives students a hands-on opportunity to build and compete with off-road vehicles. As juniors, students design the car and begin the building process. Then, they perfect it as seniors. At the South Jersey Technology Park, they can test drive it on an off-road course. Students also get the chance to travel with the car and compete against other clubs. To learn more, watch the video above and visit their website and Facebook page .
Jelly Roll Puts His Weight Loss on Display at Billboard Music AwardsBC celebrates 40th anniversary of Doug Flutie's Miracle in Miami pass with 41-21 win over NC
The party’s all-but-official nominee for governor in 2025, Spanberger is viewed as overlooking the Democratic legislative majority that — since it was fully restored in 2023 — has been a check on Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, denying him such high-profile proposals as further tax cuts and a publicly financed professional sports-and-entertainment complex in deep-blue Northern Virginia. Spanberger, readying to quit the U.S. House of Representatives after three terms in battleground seats anchored in the Richmond and Washington, D.C., suburbs, has a particularly fraught relationship with the chief budget writer in the Virginia Senate, Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, who has clashed — and collaborated — with governors in both parties for more than 32 years in the General Assembly. Though she vows to support the Democratic nominee for governor, Lucas' first choice was Mayor Levar Stoney of Richmond, who abandoned his candidacy, concluding that Spanberger was all-but unbeatable in next June’s primary. Lucas said her concerns with Spanberger have been building for several years. That they’re rooted in, among other things, the candidate’s opposition to Lucas’ reelection to a top post in the state Democratic Party responsible for enlisting minority voters. Spanberger backed a former Arlington County Democratic leader. “I took that personally,” Lucas said. Lucas described Spanberger as “insensitive,” citing her opposition to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and her criticism of some of the House’s younger progressive Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. In a written statement, Spanberger said she’s had “one-on-one conversations” with legislators about their priorities, including schools, mental health and transportation. Spanberger added, “These important, ongoing discussions are about building relationships over time ... and making sure that all corners of the commonwealth are heard in Richmond.” But the Lucas-Spanberger tiff is more than differences between two strong-willed individuals. One is a white woman — a 45-year-old, multilingual Gen X-er from a former white-flight Richmond suburb, who was an investigator for the U.S. Postal Service and a CIA operative before winning, as a perceived moderate, a swing House seat. The other is a Black woman — an 80-year-old former shipfitter who built successful retail and elder-care businesses and is an unapologetic liberal from a majority-minority, blue-collar city who delights in political combat. There is an institutional dimension to the friction between Spanberger and Lucas. Spanberger is a neophyte to state government, though she’s been a member of Congress. That Lucas is in the Senate, whose 40 members are elected to four-year terms decided before and after a governor takes office, means that she and her colleagues can operate with greater freedom from the executive branch than the House of Delegates. House members, serving two-year terms, are on the same ballot as candidates for governor, often requiring that they run in tandem. This may explain the prompt endorsement of Spanberger by House Speaker Don Scott of Portsmouth, who hopes Spanberger has coattails long enough to expand his caucus’ two-seat majority. But presidential balloting in Virginia, carried by Vice President Kamala Harris, could augur opportunity for House Democrats. Seven Republican-held House districts fell to Harris, including three in the Richmond area: Dave Owen’s in Henrico and those in Chesterfield County of Mark Earley Jr. and Carrie Coyner. Because Spanberger cleared the field for the gubernatorial nomination 14 months before the primary, Spanberger was widely seen as the favorite in the general election next November. And that may have spurred Spanberger, perhaps prematurely, to focus on the challenge of governing rather than forging relationships with experienced lawmakers who could shepherd her agenda through the General Assembly. “People don’t feel she’s going in the right order, in terms of prioritizing what she’ll do as governor versus building the relationships that she’ll need to do that,” said Ben Tribbett, a Democratic strategist and Lucas adviser. But two recent events could force Spanberger to be more mindful of the implications of here-and-now for there-and-later: Donald Trump’s return to the presidency and the emergence of Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears as the Republicans’ consensus nominee for governor . It will depend, in no small measure, on Earle-Sears, the first Black Republican and first Black woman elected statewide in Virginia. Because she was narrowly elected on Youngkin’s coattails three years ago, it is debatable whether Earle-Sears is fully tested as a candidate. That can’t be said about Spanberger, who prevailed in toss-up districts that Republicans contested with big bucks and big names, including Youngkin, and who ensured that Democrats — behind Eugene Vindman, a figure in the first Trump impeachment — held the 7th District. In 2018, when the district — though largely rural and red — was oriented to the Richmond suburbs, Spanberger emerged from a primary to defeat a two-term Republican incumbent, Dave Brat. In 2022, the district having been redrawn — it retained huge chunks of Republican-friendly countryside but was rooted in the Democratic outer suburbs of D.C. — it again broke to Spanberger. Hers was a regional victory that confirmed for many in Virginia’s center-left Democratic establishment, of which Lucas is a member, that Spanberger had the right stuff to run statewide. But Lucas isn’t fully convinced. That, in contrast with several other senior Senate Democrats supporting Spanberger, Lucas is coy on her candidacy contributes to speculation that another Democrat might, at the last minute, make the race. A sometimes-whispered, though unlikely prospect — given that he’s in the Democratic congressional leadership as the ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee — is U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, the dean of the Virginia delegation. Could all this be a leverage play by Lucas? Say, the senator, as head of the Finance and Appropriation Committee, demanding a pledge from Spanberger that she’d sign legislation legalizing those ubiquitous electronic gambling machines — opposed by Henrico — and giving Lucas even more millions to play with in tax dollars?Double-whammy: Household insurance costs to soar again, adding to inflationSTUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Players from Swiss team Young Boys held up teammate Meschack Elia's shirt as a tribute during their Champions League game at Stuttgart after his son died this week. Lukasz Lakomy gave Young Boys the lead with a powerful long-range shot in the sixth minute Wednesday and ran toward the sideline, where he held up Elia's shirt as his teammates gathered around him. Young Boys said in a statement earlier Wednesday that one of Elia's sons had “died completely unexpectedly following a short illness” in Elia's home country of Congo. The 27-year-old Elia had been informed Tuesday evening and was on his way to Congo to be with his family, the club added. Both teams wore black armbands during the game, and there was a moment of silence before kickoff. Stuttgart won the game 5-1 to leave the Swiss champion with its sixth loss from six games. Young Boys captain Loris Benito said the game and the result meant little to his team in the circumstances. “I honestly have to tell you that this evening is not about sport at all for us, but about the tragedy that we experienced yesterday,” Benito told broadcaster DAZN. “It is so unimaginable and everything else is irrelevant when you experience this.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Anti-NATO protest in Montreal erupts in fires, smashed windows, arrests, say policeOnkar Nerkar is fast becoming a dynamic force for change in complex logistics and manufacturing. His background combines technical prowess in industrial engineering with strategic insight into supply chain management. His work as the director of continuous improvement and industrial engineering places him at the front and center of operations strategy and reliability improvement, where his influence has proven to be transformative. From implementing intricate, large projects to championing a culture of efficiency, Onkar Nerkar's strategies are more than just industry-standard. His approach, combined with his extensive industry experience, introduces a fresh perspective to the manufacturing world. A Foundation Built on Excellence Onkar Nerkar's journey to leadership in manufacturing is built on a strong academic background and extensive experience. After earning a master's in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois, Chicago, he excelled in roles with increasing responsibility in the global environment. Strong Electrical Engineering background and early exposure in technical fields helped him to decode fundamentals of Electronics and Instrumentation which later played a crucial role in his career. "Industrial engineering is more than processes and workflows ," Onkar Nerkar emphasizes. "It's about creating an ecosystem that works efficiently and smartly. Each process should add value and gear toward customer satisfaction and business growth. " This philosophy has guided his approach to transformation, resulting in implementations that have generated millions in cost savings while enhancing operational agility and resilience. Champion of Operations Excellence Throughout his two-decade career, Onkar Nerkar has demonstrated the transformative power of lean and agile manufacturing along with Six Sigma techniques. In the capacity of operations leader for the site at one of the leading Tier-I automotive suppliers he led green field projects from design to install end to end supply chain, his leadership of strategic initiatives yielded exceptional results and set new industry standards for engineered material flow and logistics. In another capstone achievement, Onkar led the team at the distribution center to improve customers experience by reducing claims and thereby enhancing the company's brand image in the region. His success at multinational companies stems from his ability to integrate Industry 4.0 advancements with traditional lean principles. By leveraging automation and data-driven processes, he has created manufacturing environments that are both highly efficient and adaptable to change. Onkar Nerkar emphasizes a human-centric approach that he believes should define modern manufacturing. "The core of lean manufacturing is respect for every individual. When you respect each link in the chain, you find ways to make every step more efficient and meaningful ," he says. This philosophy has proven remarkably effective in practice. Under his guidance, organizations have achieved significant reductions in operating expenses and sustained improvements in business and employee engagement. His implementations have consistently delivered results that exceed industry benchmarks, with some facilities reporting multifold productivity gains. Innovating Toward Sustainable Manufacturing Sustainability has become an industry imperative, adding significance to Onkar Nerkar's work. In his current and previous roles, he has implemented practices that minimize waste, optimize energy use, and reduce operations environmental footprint. His approach to sustainable operations often involves rethinking workflows and embracing innovative technologies that align with environmental goals. He explains that sustainability goes beyond regulatory compliance; it involves positioning the entire supply chain as a responsible global citizen. " Sustainability is not just about reducing emissions or energy consumption. It's about building a resilient industry that can adapt to changing environmental and economic landscapes ," he states. Elevating Industry Standards Onkar Nerkar envisions the integration of digital technologies in the future, sustainable practices, and an increased focus on agility. As manufacturing undergoes a massive transformation with smart factories, data analytics, and AI-driven processes, he sees a unique opportunity to elevate industrial standards. "Industry 4.0 is necessary, not just a mere trend," he says. "Manufacturers who embrace digital transformation will have the ability to adapt to global shifts, whether economic volatility or supply chain disruptions." A Catalyst for Change Onkar Nerkar's impact extends far beyond the companies he has served. His innovative approach to operations and supply chain transformation has influenced industry practices across multiple sectors and continents. At his current assignments and in his previous roles, he has demonstrated that successful transformation requires a delicate balance of technological innovation, human insight, and sustainable practices. " Sustainability and progress are complementary aspects of responsible manufacturing," Onkar asserts. "These are responsibilities we owe to future generations ." His leadership and innovation are shaping a more efficient, sustainable, and human-centric manufacturing future, demonstrating that operational excellence can coexist with a commitment to environmental stewardship and human development. Contribution to the Field of Research With his extensive experience in the industry, Onkar Nerkar is now sharing his knowledge through articles and research papers. He recently published an article where he proposed strategies to enhance business profitability through qualitative analysis. Currently he is researching human interaction with collaborative robots (Cobots) and how it affects Cobot's efficiency. His findings aim to emphasize the importance of building trust to improve user experiences with Cobots. " We are constantly asking, how can we do this differently and better? It's not enough to keep up with standards; we need to set them ," he explains. Through the systematic studies of digital and data science technologies available in today's world, he has fostered a culture of technological excellence that permeates every aspect and function of operations, from predictive maintenance to quality assurance. Onkar has been recognized with accolades throughout his professional career span for his efforts in different times, initiatives, and organizations. He has been recognized for his significant contribution towards profitability, managing the clients beyond expectations and outstanding achievement in improving asset reliability.
The 'Jobs' Channel On Whatsapp Celebrates Success Connecting Job Seekers And Employers
Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’Pune: The first edition of Cambodia-India Bilateral Army Exercise ( CINBAX-I ) successfully concluded on Friday, marking a significant milestone in strengthening military cooperation and interoperability between the two nations. The joint exercise saw active participation from both the Cambodian and Indian contingents, enhancing their operational synergy and exposing the Cambodian contingent to the functioning of staff officers during the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO). It also highlighted India's military training and defence technology expertise, fostering a shared understanding of modern military practices. A key component of it was a planning exercise aimed at wargaming the conduct of joint Counter-Terrorism (CT) operations under chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The exercise focused on discussions related to establishment of a joint training task force for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). It also included the planning of operations in a CT environment, wargaming various contingencies, and exploring the employment of force multipliers in sub-conventional operations—combat firing at battle range. A live firing exercise was also part of the exercise. "The exercise has successfully enhanced operational synergy and fostered deeper mutual understanding between Indian and Cambodian armies. The exercise served as a platform for sharing best practices and exploring avenues for future collaboration in peacekeeping and defence technology," said a senior army officer. The Cambodian contingent visited the College of Military Engineering (CME) where they were introduced to humanitarian mine action techniques employed during UN missions. They were also briefed on anti-IED and explosives actions, including the role of canine units (dog IEDs), and witnessed art equipment and new-generation equipment used by the Corps of Engineers. The exercise included a comprehensive display of equipment such as NEGEV light machine guns, SIG 716 rifles, mortar systems, thermal imaging instruments, and sniper rifles. In line with 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, major firms from India's defence technology sector, including MKU, Jatayu, Ikran Aerospace, and AI Innovations, showcased their indigenous products. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
AMD shares dip 2% amid AWS AI chip demand concernsTexas has nation's top recruiting class after landing elite defensive lineman from Georgia
Laid-off workers from the Northvolt plant that makes batteries for electric vehicles in Skelleftea are flocking to free Swedish for Immigrants courses organised by the municipality. Many of those made redundant were immigrants now hoping to boost their chances of finding work by speaking better Swedish. The medicinal cannabis programme introduced as a pilot scheme in 2018 could be made permanent following its increased use for pain relief. The Interior and Health ministry said the government wanted patients to continue using medicinal cannabis without having to acquire it on the illegal market. Freja Kirk, singer and a LGBT role model, met homophobic abuse when she performed at an Odense school where, amongst other things pupils called her a freak. “There was a bad vibe and bad energy among some of them,” the singer said afterwards. “It makes me disappointed and sad for young people. Most Read on Euro Weekly News The number of boys in the 13-17 age group taking medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown from 2 per cent to 5.5. per cent since 2004, Norway’s Institute of Public Health (NIPH) figures showed. The NIPH attributed the rise to growing awareness and improved diagnostic methods. Modernising Oslo’s busy Majorstuen station, a new signalling system and completing the new Fornebu line will disrupt the metro system in 2025, public transport provider Ruter announced. “There will be detours and replacement buses on different sections throughout much of next year,” Ruter warned. Fifty-one per cent of Italians told a survey by ANAS, which manages the country’s motorways and main road, that they did not believe driving over the speed limit was dangerous. ANAS chief executive Aldo Isi said these figures highlighted the need for more investment in road education and awareness. Italy came 43rd out of 63 countries on the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) presented at the COP29 Conference in Baku. This was better than last year when Italy was ranked 44th but despite a medium rating for greenhouse gas emissions, it lost out on renewable energy and climate policy. The Sint-Joost-ten-Node municipal elections on October 13 were declared invalid after the new mayor Emir Kir was accused of electoral fraud. As proxy votes at two of the town’s 12 polling stations were untraceable and another 226 proxy forms had errors, it is likely voters will have to go to the polls again. A gold tooth, all that remains of Patrice Lumumba, was not stolen from his mausoleum in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s capital, as previously feared. Lumumba, assassinated by Katangan separatists in 1961, was responsible for transforming the Belgian Congo into an independent nation. Environmentalists opposed to extending Tesla’s Gruneheide plant were moved from their camp by police who explained that they needed to verify there were more no unexploded bombs in the area after two were found there last summer. Once pronounced safe, the activists could return, police said. Crisis-hit Volkswagen which hopes to save €18 billion by shutting down three sites worldwide, is also planning staff reductions, prompting its German employees to offer a cut in their salaries to avoid redundancies. Should this fail, there will be industrial action the union that represents them warned. Spot checks on 115,000 people by border police between January and the end of October this year prevented 497 illegal entries at frontier crossings with Germany and Belgium. An additional 628 people who were stopped in vehicles went on to request asylum in the Netherlands, police statistics revealed. None of the lifts at 10 of Amsterdam’s 38 metro stations are working and are now totally inaccessible to wheelchair users, according to the NH Niews and local television station AT 5. The city’s public transport company GVB agreed that there was a problem and said they were waiting for spare parts for the lifts. Cyclists are increasingly unpopular in France and are accused of treating other road users with contempt, especially in Paris where mayor Anne Hidalgo is reproached for favouring them. In contrast, the French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB) claim cyclists are “routinely subjected to motorised violence.” EMMANUEL MACRON finished his Latin American tour in Chile where he visited the Santiago home of the late poet and Nobel prizewinner Pablo Neruda, emphasing his links to France. The connection was political as well as literary, the President said, as France was both a refuge and a platform for Neruda. The video game industry in Finland has developed from a few small operators 30 years ago to a multimillion industry that is one of Europe’s largest. Figures from Statista Finland show that in 2019 the sector was worth $185.74 million (€177.1 million), but will soar 91 per cent to $356.49 million (€339.9 million) by 2029. Finland has recorded its highest number of corporate bankruptcies so far this century, with 2,700 companies declaring themselves insolvent by the beginning of November and overtaking 2023’s record number of 2,681 bankruptcies. Small businesses that have a turnover of less than €199,000 were the most affected. The Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) registered a mild 1.6 earthquake northeast of Brandon (County Cork) at 5.50am on November 19. It was only one kilometre below the surface and some locals reported noting the tremor, which was described as “unusual” for Co Cork where seismic activity is rare. IRELAND’S employment figures are rising, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed, with 73 per cent of the 15 to 64 age group working in the third quarter of 2024. With approximately 2.8 million people in jobs, this was 1.1 percentage points more than during the same period in 2023, the CSO said. The six reservoirs and dams that provide the Algarve’s water were at 34 per cent capacity on November 18 following recent rainfall, Portugal’s Environment Agency (APA) said. Between them they hold approximately 154 cubic hectometres of water, which equates to 35 per cent of the needs of tourism and urban areas. Only 4.1 per cent of the 6,446 Portuguese children who are in care live with foster families, and their ages generally range from newborns to nine-year-olds. The government now hopes to “make great strides” in reducing the number of children of all ages in institutional care by finding more foster homes for them.